Education

Francesca earned a BSc in Industrial Engineering (2016) and an MSc in Materials and Production Engineering (2019), both from the University of Trento. During her bachelor's thesis internship, she explored the use of 3D printing, and in her master's, she focused on tissue engineering. She
later merged these interests during her PhD, awarded in 2024 through a co-tutelle program between the University of Trento (BioTech) and Maastricht University (MERLN). Her doctoral research focused on developing versatile bioinks adaptable to various applications and
printing techniques, combining engineering methods with biomedical applications.

Research

Throughout her academic journey and PhD, Francesca developed expertise in the chemical modification and characterization of hydrogels, printability assessments using various techniques (e.g., extrusion, microfluidics), and bioink development. From 2021 to 2024, she was part of the BRIDIE project, which aimed to develop physiologically relevant in vitro kidney models. She contributed to the team by advancing bioink development and implementing strategies to rely solely on photocrosslinking in microfluidic bioprinting.

In 2025, she joined POLYMAT as a postdoctoral researcher in the FunPolySens group, led by Dr. Clara Garcia Astrain. There, she continues her work on bioink development and printing optimization, contributing to the creation of a bioprinted gastric mucosa model for in vitro
infection studies.

 

 

Responsive Polymers for Therapeutics

Publications